Apparatus for coating transfer fabrics



Feb. 8, 1944.

APPARATUS FOR COATING TRANSFER FABRICS G. w. SHRECKHISE 2,341,392

Filed April 10. 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet l 1NVENT0R:

Gebrge WShreckhise, y.

Feb. 8, 1944. w s c s 2,341,392

APPARATUS FOR COATING TRANSFER FABRICS Filed A ril 10, 1940 s Sheets-Sheet 2 4 r [if 8 30 IN V EN TOR.

George WSIn-edrfiise BY i a ATTORNEY I b- 1944- e. w. SHRECKHISE APPARATUS FOR COATING TRANSFER FABRICS Filed April 10/ 1940 3' Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENT 0R. George Mjfirec/ffiase,

rromvzx atented Feb. 8, 1944 18 Claims.

The invention relates to means for coating transfer fabric and the like, especially typewriter ribbons, and ribbons for similar printing uses,

and particularly to ribbons coated so as to be impervious to the usual inks employed, on one side,

and having for an object to enable the provision of such'a ribbon which will have novel advantages in length of life, freedom from drying, a minimum tendency to cause accumulation of lint upon typewriter type or otherwise soiling the type, as well as other objects of improvements in such ribbons, which have been the aim of prior workers in the art.

While there have been numerous patents relating to the coating oil typewriter ribbons before or after inking, I have found by experience in the art that none of the typewriter ribbon producers have been able to produce a satisfactory ribbon coated after inking, and having knowledge that parties who have perfected a novel coating for ribbons have been unable to arrange with any of the ribbon manufacturing companies in the United States to produce the ribbon satisfactorily,

notwithstanding their-attempts to do so, it has been a paramount objectof my invention to enable the production of a ribbon with a satisfactory coating applied after the impregnation of the fabric with the necessary ink or other'fiuid to be transferred. Ribbons coated by some of the leading manufacturers of the country have been found objectionable because they could not apply the coating sufliciently thin, or with sufilcient uniformity, and in addition, the ribbons produced by the application of the coating upon the fabric already impregnated with the transfer ink have been objectionable in undue penetration of the coating into the the ribbon, which, in addition to involving an excessive thickness in the coating,

represents a locking in" of a certain amount of ink due to a partial solution in, or partial enclosure by the coating materialapplied; so that the amount of ink available for transfer use is correspondingly reduced, or its transfer impaired. Another difliculty experienced is the application of a uniform coating, that is to say, one in which the material applied is of a continuous uniformity in quantity per unit of area, and without inequalities of application, even in the shortest unit of length of such a ribbon. Knowledge of these difllculties spurred the activities of George viou coating on one side could only be successfully accomplished by applying the coating before impregnation of the ribbon with the transfer ink,

for which reason the Pelton patents considered of great importance.

It is therefore the purpose of the invention to enable the coating of a pre-inked ribbon with an impervious coating on one side with great uniformity, extreme attenuation, and with a minimum penetration of the ribbon and/or diffusion of the coating in the ink, or vice versa.

A further important object is to provide a novel means for regulating the amount of material applied to the ribbon.

An important object-isto enable the applicahave been .tlon ofthe coating material to the ribbon in a solvent which is also a solvent of the ink, without difiusion of the ink in the coating material or fouling of the coating material by the ink.

Another aim is to enable the application of such a coating, as for instance, cellulose acetate solution, with great economy and with a minimum disturbance of the viscosity of thematerial an important aim of the invention to present an apparatus adapted in a novel way to obviate stoppage or break-down on account of knots or lumps in the ribbon passing through the machine.

Another important aim is to provide a novel guiding means for the ribbon whereby it; maybe instantly'released manually from the machine.

Another important aim is to provide novel ten- I sion adjusting means for releasing.

Additional objects, advantages and features of invention are involved and reside in the construction, arrangement and combination of parts, and in the method of procedure, and the nature and order of steps taken? therein, as will be apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings. wherein,

' Figure 1 is an elevational view of a system embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a detail section of the coating machine, full size.

Figure 3 is a top view thereof.

.Figure 4 is a detail perspective view of the nozzle plate;

Figure 5 is a fragment of a sectional view similar to Figure 2, showing a modification of the mounting of the chisel bit;

Figure 6 is a vertical section in a plane coincident with the axis of the shaft 34;

Figure 7 is a fragment of Figure 2 enlarged, showing the device in operation.

The invention is susceptible of embodiment i a very compact form adapted to the operation of a multiplicity of units as agang, yet with each unit capable of being taken out of operation without impairing the operation of the remainder, in case of necessity. The invention is here shown in a form adapted to be mounted in various conventional ways, and for convenience is illustrated 1 as installed upon a heavy table i0, along one edge portion of which a suitable number of'openings II are cut, in which are set the respective operating units, arranged in a line along the table, so that all may be reached by an operator or attendant standing beside the table, permitting ready access to either upper or lower parts of the units as required.

Adjacent the opposite side of the table an electric motor I2 is shown, the shaft of which operates any conventional or appropriate form of reduction gear device i3, transmitting motion to a main shaft l4, which may extend throughout .the length of the table, if desired, so that all and has an enlarged inlet port l9 at its upper side at one end opening to the reservoir. The tank I! is provided with a heavy cover plate 20, a portion of which is shown as extended close over the table I I! and secured thereto. The reservoir is indicated as substantially rectangular at its upper part, opening through the plate 20. Secured to the plate 20 over the reservoir there is a block 2|, as will be described.

The ends of the cylinder l8 are closed by re- .movable head plugs 22 and 23 in the present instance, a helical vane worm 24 being disposed revolubly in the cylinder between these heads, the plug 22 having a step.bearing therein receiving one end of a shaft portion-25 of the worm, while at the other end of the pump a continuation of the shaft is extended through the element 23 and has a pulley 28 mounted thereon. The pump is driven by a belt 21 engaged around the larger pulley I5 adjacent the single unit, and

being passed over idler pulleys 28 at or adjacent the opening I I, from whence the belt extends downwardly and around the pulley 26. At the same end of the cylinder IS, an outlet port 29 is formed, from which a pipe line 30 is extended diagonally with respect to the cylinder in a horizontal direction and thence upwardly to a level with the block 2|, and there is-provided' with a hand valve 3| beyond which'it is connected to a simple duct passage 32 leading through the rear (left hand) side of the block horizontally, as may be seen in Figures 2 and 3.

The block 2| is formed with a rectilinear transverse groove or chanr l 33 in its upper side. parallel to the shaft l4, although this is not essential, this groove having a bottom semicircular in cross section, the geometrical center of which is a short distance below the top surface of the block. The right hand and left hand walls as viewed in Figure 2 continue vertically from the horizontal radii of the center. Thrust in and snugly fitted to this groove, there is a straight shaft or bar 34, circular in cross section, and in the present instance being approximately onehalf an inch in diameter in the actual machine, although this size may be varied as discretion dictates. The shaft 34 is carried on two arms 35, of respective bell crank levers 36 pivoted on a common axis at the rear side of the block 2|, the swinging ends of these arms being permanently attached to the shaft and located near the respective ends of the block. In the present instance the levers are carried upon brackets 31, consisting of thick planiform plates secured to the end faces of the block 2|, so that the body portions of the plates project vertically upward, as pivot ears The levers 36 have respective upwardly projecting short arms 38 in the outer sides of which near their extremities, stud pins 39 are fixed, notched to receive therearound the anchorage eyes of respective helical contractile springs '40, the opposite ends of which are connected to suitable adjustable anchorages 4| on and close to the top of the plate 20 at a suitable distance toward the right hand side of the unit. In the present instance, these anchorages happen to be near the projection of the arc of movement of the shaft 34.

The springs are proportioned so as to be under slight tension when the shaft 34 is in the groove 33 and the arms 38 are extended upwardly, and serve to hold the shaft in the groove, yieldable to a predetermined force acting upwardly thereon, as will appear. When the shaft is lifted, the pins 39 move downwardly below lines from the anchorages through the pivot axis of the levers 38, and contraction of the springs after passing this dead center relation of the parts serves to draw the arms 38downwardly against the plate 20, and hold the shaft yieldably in raised position, yieldable to manual force to return it to operative position in the groove. In the present instance, to enable adjustment of the tension of the springs, the anchorages 4| consist of eye elements fixed on respective plates 42 mounted slidably between guide rails 43' fixed on the top of the plate 20 and having overlying flanges 44' to hold the plates 42 from lifting. A set screw 45' is engaged through each plate 42, so that it may be screwed down wardly against the top of the plate 20'to lock the plate 42 in adjusted positions.

The block 2| is formed with a relieved horizontal upper surface part 44, immediately adjacent the rear side of the groove 33, as viewed in Figure 2, this surface located at a level above the lowermost portion of the groove 33, and at the left terminates at a shoulder 45 extending to the top of the block. This relieved p rt ay be o any desired extent longitudinally of the shaft 34, and has fitted therein a nozzle block 46 which is secured upon the relieved face by bolts 41. This block is shaped and fitted to the shaft, so as to form a continuation of the groove 33, but is centrally relieved sufficiently to form a channel 5| to accommodate the passage of a ribbon 48 to and around the shaft without undue friction.

On its under side, the nozzle block 36 is formed with a nozzle channel 49, of the same widthas the ribbon 48 to be coated, this channel extending from nearthe rear edge of the nozzle block, and opening through the front edge alined with and opening on the channel At the latter edge, the channel 49 has a vertical extent from the plane of the face 44 and bottom of th block in the neighborhood of one-sixteenth of an inch, this affording satisfactory operation. Oneblock 45 is used for each width-of ribbon, the blocks differing only in the width of the channels 56 and 45, and being interchangeable.

The relieved face 44 of the block 2! has a broad triangular opening therein forming the mouth of the duct passage 32 extending from near the shoulder 45 to a line short of and parallel to the front edge of the block 46 at the groove 33. This opening at its part nearest the shaft 35 has a width equal to that of the widest ribbon to be coated in the particular machine. The passage 32 is broadened and its lower side inclined upwardly, the opening 50 being a continuation thereof and serving as a port through which fluid may pass from the pipe 30 against the under side of the block 46 and through the nozzle channel 49. The ribbon guide channel 5| at the upper side of the block 45 in line with the channel 49, has its bottom curved upwardly from adjacent the shaft 34 and backwardly therefrom until it merges with the top face of the block 45. thus affording a rounded surface upon which the ribbon 48 may travel in its movement from a supply reel toward the shaft 34, with a minimum of abrasion and friction. In

the forward part of the block 2|, a broad channel 52 is formed, extending from the groove 33 and shaft 34 at right angles, the channel having a planiform bottom 52 inclined downwardly toward the front on which a chisel-like bit 53 is slidable, this bit having a longitudinal slot therein through which there is engaged a clamping bolt 54 engaged in the block 2| by which the chisel bit is secured in adjustedpositions with respect to the shaft 34. The bit has a working edge 55 at right shaft. The shoulder 53' stops short of the shaft about 1' of an inch in the present instance. The well 54 communicates with the interior of the reservoir or tank 11, the lower part of the well being broadened downwardly, forming a materially enlarged opening at the lower side of the block, as at 56.

In the present instance, the channel 52 has.

been illustrated as being slightly over one and one-half inches wide so as to enable this machine to be used for wider ribbons, by removal of the block. 46 for the half-inch ribbon and substitution of a corresponding block with wider channels 49 and 5!, the latter to accommodate the particular width of ribbons selected and guided in Proper relation to the nozzle channel to receive coating liquid, as will be explained. It will be noted that the 54 extends under the chisel bit 53 a distance i cm the shaft 34, so that the chisel bit overhangs in the well a distance, and,

fitting snugly the side walls, serves as a closure for the forward part of the well. It will also be noted that the working edge 55'of the bit 53 is spaced from the nozzle element and relieved face 44 about degrees with respect to the shaft 34, although this distance is not critical. However, it is important that the chisel is spaced s'ufficiently from the nozzle element and set at an d acute angle to the periphery of the shaft. The chisel is formed with a nearly sharp working edge presented toward the shaft, the upper and lower major faces of the adjacent edge portion converging at an extremely acute angle, and the bit plane bisecting this angle is disposed at an angle of approximately 45 degrees, more or less, to the tangent plane of the shaft where a projection of the bit plane intersects the shaft. As will subsequently appear, the direction in which the bit converges toward the shaft is opposite the direction of movement of the ribbon, so that the chisel may perform the function of removal of coating by what might be called a shaving action.

The term nearly sharp in reference to the edge 55 of the bit means that it is material to the functioning of the device in its specific embodiment that the transverse edge of the bit presented next to the ribbon shall not be capable of cutting fibers of the ribbon under ordinary tension and functioning of the apparatus. Actually, the edge 55 has been made rounded substantially as shown in Figure '7, but it may be made somewhat sharper, or more blunt, either, without materially affecting the function of the device, although mak- 30 ing it more blunt (thicker at its sharpest part) will tend to cause objectionable pressure of the coating material against the ribbon. However, it may be practicable to use such ore blunt bit, or to arrange the bit at a great angle to the 35 shaft 34, or to use a bit or an' equivalent device with less acute angular relation between the two faces and the invention is not limited to the specific form of bit otherwise than as set forth in the claims.

At the front of the unit, a guide 64 is provided including a-horizontal cross bar 55 disposed at such level that a rectilinear line tangent to a lower surface of the bar and also tangent to the lower surface of the shaft 34 will also be tangent P to the shaft 34 on a radius of the latter slightly in advancse of the radius at which the bit edge 55 is located (as dotted at 58 in Figure '1). The

edge 55 is so located because the arms 35 extend horizontally when the shaft 34 is in the groove 33,

by most easily lift the shaft 34 for clearance automatically. This relation of the bit edge to the shaft 34 and its mounting may be preserved in case the shaft is made movable in any other divaried considerably, but it is not desirable for the ribbon to be pulled too directly toward the edge 55 of the bit, and the ribbon will be drawn to the right as in Figures 2 and 7, and then upwardly around the bar 55 in the present instance. The ribbon may be otherwise moved, however, if found expedient, and as dotted at 48' in' Figure 5, may be drawn upwardly, with the bit located as in Figure 7, or the bit may be located as shown in Figure 5, where it may have a'downward inclination toward the shaft 34, instead of being upwardly inclined theretowargl, as in Figure 7.

It is desirable that a minimum of friction be developed in the passage of the ribbon from the stock reel 58 to the take-up reel 60, and for that reason an arrangement approximating Figure '7.

owing to the nicety of fit and spacing required, it

and a ribbon knot passing over the bit may thererection. The angle 58 is not critical and may be,

has been found easier to secure the desired close fits and accurate spacing by using the shaft 34 as.a bar fixed non-revolubly on the arms 35. With a. rotative element at 34 the relation of the element 65 is not so important, and it may be more elevated or eliminated if desired. It is, however, for special reasons considered undesirable to pass the ribbon around the shaft 34 or its equivalent for any great distance, or with great tension, be-

cause of ink displacements possible as will be discussed hereinafter. v

The guide 54 includes foot parts 66 longitudinally slotted and laid horizontally on the outer parts of the rails 43, and secured adjustably in position by hold-down screws 61, although the bar 65 may be permanently mounted in a fixed position, if desired.

The channels 49 and 5| are of a width to fit' the ribbon to be coated, and it will be seen that the bottom of the channel 5| and the top side of the channel 49 intersect at each a distance from the shaft 34, and the direction of the bottom of the channel 5| is such, that a ribbon sliding in the channel 5| and drawn under the shaft 34 may pass to the under side of the shaft 34 without engaging the shaft opposite the mouth of the channel 49, but contacting it about at or below the relieved face 44. This is material in limiting the admixture of the coating and ink in the ribbon; and the elimination of tension on the ribbon as it moves against the shaft 34 also has an advantage in the coating operations. By reason of the set-back of the end of the channel 5|, the moving ribbon, fitted between the forwardly pro- J'ected sides of the channel 5| (which continue into abutment with the shaft 34), serves as a closure of the space between the shaft and nozzle block 45, preventing'the coating material from escaping upwardly, as well aspreventing access of air to the coating material in the well, reservoir and passages.

In the drawing of an inked ribbon against a member such as the shaft 34 or a corresponding roller, the pressure of the ribbon against such guide surface will compress the fibers of the ribbon next the guide surface, and correspondingly tend to extrude ink from the compressed side toward the outer side, depending on the tension of the ribbon. Consequently, if the ribbon were caused to fit against the shaft 34 beginning at a line above the nozzle channel 49, the ink would be crowded toward the surface of the ribbon at which the coating is being applied, and might even cause an extrusion of the ink sufiiciently to impair the attachment of the coating to the threads of the ribbon, as well as more certainly causing mixture of the coating and ink, with consequent diffusion of ink into the coating beyond the ribbon, or dilution of the ink with the coating so that in the departure of the ribbon the coating would be drawn further than desirable into the ribbon, in addition to the penetration which might be caused by capillary action, resulting in loss of free ink and reduction of availability for service of the ink remaining in the ribbon. By

reason of the absence of pressure of supporting or backing surfaces against the outer face of the ribbon as the coating contacts its inner or under side, there is a minimum of ink at the newly coated surface of the ribbon for this reason as well as because of the immediately preceding pressure against the ribbon of the bottom of the channel 5|, and the coating is enabled without material pressure to become securely attached to the thread surfaces with a minimum of penetration.

In the reservoir I! a liquid coating material 51 is introduced, which is preferably of a viscosity between ten and twenty-five poises. The coating may consist of cellulose acetate in acetone, with some Celluloid included, although it may be considerably varied and various other materials used. It is desirable that the solvent be of high volatility in order to facilitate rapid drying and to shorten the distance of travel of the ribbon in drying. A special advantage of my apparatus lies in the fact that the shaft 34 and the bit 53 act as a closure of the opening from the well 54, and the liquid remains in a closed circuit minimizing evaporation of the solvent.

My apparatus and method enables the use of the high viscosity coating liquid, with consequent minimum entry thereof into the ribbon fabric after contacting the surface fibers.

In the use of this invention, a ribbon supply is mounted on a supporting standard 59 immediately to the rear of thecoating unit previously described, as in Figure 1'. From this the ribbon moves downwardly to the right and under the shaft 34, which may be manually lifted to introduce the ribbon. Thence it moves upwardly and forwardly under the bar 65, thence upwardly and rearwardly to an elevated take-up spool 60, which may be removably fixed on a shaft 6|, having a pulle 52 belted at 53 to the pulley Hi. The ribbon is thus drawn in a fixed path through the coating unit, suflicient tension being established by its passage through the channel 5|, against the shaft 34 and past the bit 53. The edge of this bit is blunt or rounded to prevent cutting or abrasion of the ribbon fiber and also for a novel clearing function. The drum Of the reel 50 is preferably of large diameter so that by uniform rotation thereof there will be a minimum variation in speed of the ribbon. If desired, a

drying fan 64 may be provided directed toward the ribbon as it moves upwardly from the shaft 34 and rearwardly to the reel 40 to facilitate drying 0f the coating applied.

In operation, the movement of the ribbon under the shaft 34 and the operation of the pump are coordinated, so that the fiow of coating liquid from the nozzle channel 49 occurs at approximately th same rate of speed as the movement of the ribbon, or very slightly more. It will be noted that by the location of the upper side of the channel 49 with respect to the ribbon, it is very close to theribbon, so that there is no appreciable ingress of air at this point, and by reason of the coordinated flow of the liquid, and fit of the ribbon in the channel 5| there is no tendency of the liquid to fiow upwardly when leaving the channel 49. At the same time, the shoulder 53' constituting the termination of the lower side of the channel 49 is spaced back from the ribbon forming a substantial opening to thewall 54, so that the liquid departing from the nozzle block is free to move' to the well 54 without opposition, and so that no back pressure is developed tending to force the liquid into the ribbon. Gravity is a material factor in preventing undesirable pressure of the liquid coating upon or into the ribbon. The liquid flows from the nozzle channel in such-manner that it is partly moving in the same direction as the ribbon, and effects contact with the ribbon without material pressure. Part of the coating material adheres to the ribbon, though a portion fall away therefrom into the tank while a fairly thick body of the material moves with the ribbon toward the bit, 53, as indicated in Figure 7. The chisel edge 55 is adjusted in such relation to the'ribbon that it removes all except an infinitely small quantity of the material 51, the remainder on the ribbon being just sufiicient to coat the extreme surface fibers of the ribbon. For this reason, the adjustment of the bit 53 to the ribbon is extremely critical, and great care must be taken to have it adjusted in correct relation to the surface of the passing ribbon. For similar reasons, the chisel edge 55 must be in fixed ,parallelism to the shaft 34. In practice, I have adjusted the chisel more by observing the rate of evaporation of the coating applied, than by any actual measurement of thickness of the coating, which thickness is not appreciable by ordinary dimensional measurement.

Thus, by moving the ribbon at the rate of 14 feet per minute, I find that a proper coating for effective service appears slightly glossy upon the ribbon as it rises above the shaft 34, but quickly becomes dulled, and after moving a distance of less than ten inches it loses its glossy appearance. On account of the extreme attenuation of the coating, the latter dries very quickly to a sufiicient degree topermit the ribbon to be wound upon the take-up reel 60 without danger of adhesion. It may be explained that the conditions of operation described are under normal temper-- atures and humidity conditions, the. device operating satisfactorily as described at a temperature of in the neighborhood of 70 degrees, and with a draft to carry away the vapors given off.

As the ribbon passes the edge 55 of the bit, gravity is tending to draw downward the body of cohering coating material which adheres to the ribbon, and the relatively moving bit with its nearly sharp edge is therefore able to perform a chisel-like action in separating the major part of the coating from the ribbon without piling up With the mounting of the shaft 34 and location of the bit 53 as described, as soon as a ribbon knot engages against the edge 55 of the bit,

owing to the rounded edge of the latter, the

knotted material wedges between the bit and the shaft 34, and as the tension of the springs and weight of the shaft are slight, the shaft is lifted by the knot, without excessive abruptness and only in the degree necessary to permit passage of the knot while the fibers of the latter are compressed between the bit and shaft. In this its momentum has any material effect in causing its contact with the ribbon, and produces no pressure tending to cause the coating to enter the fabric. Its movement is, however, convergent to the path of the ribbon sufiiciently to cause contact of the liquid with theribbon. Direction of the liquid, however, has a major component coincident with the direction of movement of the ribbon so that as soon as the contact occurs, the

' gagement with and retention on the extreme surof the coating before the bit or development of pressure thereby or otherwise, tending to" press the coating objectionably against the ribbon. Thus, the coating being applied to the under side of the ribbon without pressure, while moving'in the same direction and at aclosely approximating similar speed, and while gravity tends to draw the coating from the ribbon, it has been possible to apply this coating with a minimum penetration or tendency to diifuse in or take the ink which is upon the ribbon into the solution, and to avoid tendency of the material to be pressed into the ribbon when the excess is removed by the chisel. A material factor in avoiding compression of liquid at the time of removal of excess is the sharpness and acuteness of the edge of the chisel-that is, the extremity small angle between the opposite faces of the chisel edge. It has been found possible to operate this machine in applying the coating as described without appreciable discoloration of the excess removed by the chisel, so that the coating may be circulated repeatedly through the tank and cup to the nozzle without taking up an appreciable amount of ink. The function of the chisel in removing the excess is distinct from a scraping action, and does face fibers of the ribbon.

It will be understood also that in the removal of excess liquid coating material from a ribbon, anything which would cause piling up of the liquid against the scraping device should such used, would mean that a certain hydrostatic pressure is developed there, and it has been found that this is sufficient to cause a disturb ance of the ink in the ribbon and a circulation has so penetrated and become mixed. This is not involve pressure on' the ribbon by the chisel.

The relation, however, is so fine, that when a knot in the thread of which the ribbon is woven a material factor in shortening the useful life of the ribbon under prior coating methods,.large- 1y, if not completely off-setting the advantages which might be gained otherwise by the application of the coating of the ribbon. vMy invention derives special importance from the fact that it obviates these objections.

The rate of flow of the coating liquid through the pipe 30 may be regulated by the valve 3|, and also vby varying the speed of the pump or its effectiveness, either of which may be efiected in ways well known.

It may be appreciated thatthe composition of the coating involves a material of high adhesive quality.

It will be appreciated that while I have disclosed a specific embodiment of structure and method for practice of my invention, many changes may be made therein without departin complete. which has also been produced, formed of the from the spirit of the invention as-more particu-- larly set forth in the appended claims.

It should be appreciated that with the channel 49 proportioned with the same or slightly less width than the ribbon being coated, the coating extruded from the nozzle channel 49 will not spread beyond the edges of the ribbon at either side, and so the shaft 34 remains clean and clear of the coating at all times. The operation of the I chisel 53 also is such that it does not cause the 10 coating to spread on to the shaft 34, and in consequence, the likelihood of the spreading of the coating to the transfer or ink side of the ribbon accidentally is greatly minimized. The coating of a narrow ribbon such as one one-half inch wide, which is a standard width for typewriters, requires the utilization of only a portion of the width of the chisel edge, but this does not impair the action of the device. The chisel i's preferably wider than the widest ribbon to be coated by the unit, and the well portion 54 may be still broader, so that excess liquid will drop from the. chisel without contacting the sides of the well and only the chisel will require cleaning when the machine is stopped for a long period, in addition to cleaning or the nozzle slot 49.

It is intended that the term ribbon" in the claims shall apply to any fabric whether strictly a ribbon or not, whether formed of woven threads or other materials suitable for treatment to form a transfer material substantially as indicated.

The invention in some aspects is not necessarily limited to the production of transfer sheets and bands, but may be found useful for applying materials for other purposes, to various fabrice and materials. It will be understood that the invention comprises the application of both or either a complete, continuous coat body or layer upon and over a face of the fabric, forming a complete dam and impervious wall, as well as a partial dam or non-continuous coating, and in practice the invention has been utilized to form a coating of the surface fibers without'being an absolutely impervious and continuous body, but forming a partial dam, which might be described as being between 85% and 100% This, as well as the complete dam exceeding thinness before referred to, has peculiar advantages in prolonging the effectiveness of the coating'in preserving a typewriter ribbon or the like, and preventing the formation of lint upon typewriter type and other impression machines, because of the extreme flexibility of the coating by reason of its thinness, as well as its inherent flexibility due to its toughness; and also the manner of applying and the thinness of the coating gives it a more intimate hold upon the ribbon fibers. Where a complete dam of a thick coat or shell is formed, utilizing ordinary materials most economically available heretofore, the increased body of the coating makes it fracture soon, and also causes it to separate from the ribbon quickly.

It should be understood that it is dimcult to define the exact nature of the edge 55 of the the ribbon without damage. 76

For this reason, in use with very fine ribbons of high thread count, the edge 55 may possibly be much sharper than for coarser ribbons. It is thought that it will never be necessary to form the edge 55 with a radius of more than approximately 0ne-sixty-f0urth-of an inch, or in decimal measurement, .0156 of an inch, for typewriter ribbons. But for high thread count ribbons the thickness of the rounded edge 55 may be less than one one-hundredth of an inch (.01). This would involve a radius of one two-hundredth of an inch. If the invention is applied to coating of other fabrics 'or materials, it is possible that an edge 55 on the bit 53 or its equivalent may be' used much thicker than the maximum above stated. In some uses of larger edges, advantage might be taken of the effect of such edge in the respect that while removing a predetermined excess of material, it will tend by its surface convergent to the fabric or other material to build up a slight pressure on the remaining coating, tending to press it against'the material being coated, and so efiecting penetration where desired, or more secure fastening to surfaces.

The device as illustrated in the present instance has been adapted to a range of from the smallest width of typewriter ribbon to ribbons of one and a half inches in width, but the invention is also applicable to wider ribbons such as those nine or more inches wide used for multigraph machines, and check writers and other business machines.

In Figure 5 (where parts corresponding to those already described bear the same reference characters with the application of a prime mark), there is illustrated an arrangement of the chisel bit such that it slopes downwardly toward its edge 55, whereby the coating fluid will tend to drop therefrom without running outward onto the wall of the well 54, the chisel being secured upon an inclined top face of the block suitably finished for the purpose. The relieved face or passage 49 is in this view shown at a slightly lower level than the corresponding parts of Figure 1, in relation to the shaft 34, so that there is a more pronounced delivery of the coating liquid with a major component of" motion or direction tangential to the shaft at the line of incidence of the liquid with the ribbon. However, it should be noted that the end of the passage formed between the cap plate 46 or 46' and the relieved face 49 or 49' (disregarding the shaft 34 or 34') is not actually the termination of the duct-way for the liquid, and that the ribbon itself, when the device is in operation forms in effect a duct wall and with the' face 53' or 53" will form in effect a continuation of the passage 51' through which the liquid may flow. In consequence, in the apparatus of both Figure 5 and Figure 2, as the liquid passes from under the plate 46 or 46 it is deflected by, and caused to turn and move with, the ribbon, or slightly faster in the same direction, and as gravity thereafter becomes effective a lower portion of the stream moves divergently from the ribbon. As the bit 53 becomes effective, the remainder of the liquid will in large part move tangentially, and when distant from the ribbon on the surface of the bit at greater angles, while returning through the well to. the reservoir. It will be appreciated that in prior devices where a scraper or doctor blade is employed over the ribbon if the liquid is caused to dam up slightly before the scraper I velop in the liquid immediately in advance of the scraper or blade causing, instead of a tangential movement, a slight movement inward toward and into the ribbon fibers further than the penetradevice, said nozzle device including a delivery nozzle channel shaped to project a ribbon-like stream of the coating therefrom of the same width as the ribbon to be coated, and being positioned inclose proximity to the under side of the ribbon and having one-side spaced from the ribbon and being arranged to direct the discharge of coating with a large element of direction of departure from the nozzle coincident with the direction of movement of the ribbon, and means positioned beyond the nozzle device in the direction of departure of the ribbon to. remove downwardly from the ribbon a predetermined excess of coating. 4

2. The structure of claim 1 in whichacylindri cal guide device is positioned transversely of the path of the ribbon between the nozzle and said means to remove excess coating, both the nozzle and said last named means being below the axis of the guide.

3. The structure of claim 1 in which a cylindrical guide device is positioned between the said nozzle device and said means to remove excess coating, 'a movable mounting for the guide, and

yielding means engaged therewith to hold the guide inoperative position, yieldable to a ribbon and the like under predetermined force.

4. A coating machine consisting of a reservoir having an outlet port at its lower part, a pump operatively associated therewith, a body element over the reservoir, a transverse groove therein, a cylindrical guide liftably in the groove, an arm attached to the guide having a distant pivot, a spring connected to the arm and anchored to hold the guide yieldingly in the groove, a nozzle device presented toward one side of the guide, an excess coating remover spaced from the nozzle device, duct connections between the pump and nozzle device, and means to move a fabric downwardly beside the guide adjacent the nozzle device, under the guide and between the guide and excess coating remover, the body element being open downwardly from and between the nozzle element and excess coating remover.

5. The structure of claim 4, in which the anchorage is in position for the spring to move to and beyond dead center relation to the anchorage and pivot.

6. The structure of claim 4 in which the excess coating remover is a fixed member spaced normally in close proximity to the shaft, and said spring is of a strength to yield to the ribbon, whereby to clear knots or lumps in the ribbon caught between the shaft and exc'ess coating remover.

7. A coating machine consisting of a reservoir having an outlet port at its lower part, a pump operatively associated therewith, a body member mounted over the reservoir having a horizontal groove in its upper side. a shaft set liftably there in, means to hold the shaft releasably in operative position, means to move a fabric downward- 1y against the shaft, thereunder, and upwardly at the opposite side, the bodybeing centrally open under the shaft at the path of the ribbon, a nozzle slot being formed in the side of the groove at the path of the descending part of the ribbon of a width corresponding to that of the ribbon and directed partly in the direction of movement of the ribbon, its outlet being partly under the shaft, the upper side' of the outlet of the nozzle slot being close to the path of the ribbon and its lower side being spaced from the ribbon for the purpose described, means at the opposite side of the shaft to remove excess coating, and duct connections between the pump and said nozzle slot.

8. In a coating machine of the character described a body member, a horizontal groove in the upper side thereof having a semi-circular,

bottom, a shaft fitted liftably to the bottom of the groove, the body being open under the central portion of the shaft, arms pivoted adjacent one side of the body and fixed on the shaft for swinging of the shaft from the groove, yielding means to hold the shaft in operative position in the groove, said body being relieved on its upper side at one side of the shaft to form a rectilinear edge spaced from the shaft below the axis of the shaft, a. duct opening through the relieved part spaced from said edge, a nozzle block removably fixed on the relieved part and having a channel therein registered with said duct next the relieved portion open toward the shaft, the upper and transverse edge part of the channel being closely adjacent the shaft but adapted to permit pas sage of a ribbon therebetween, and means to supply liquid under pressure to said duct.

9. The structure of claim 8 in which the means to supply liquid consists of a reservoir, acylinder having an inlet port in receiving relation to the reservoir, 2. helicoidal worm fitted in the cylinder,

an outlet port in the cylinder adjacent the end opposite the inlet port, means torotate the worm, and duct connections between the outlet port and said duct in the body.

10. The structure of claim 8 in which the means to supply liquid consists of a reservoir, a cylinder having an inlet port in receiving relation to the reservoir, a helicoidal worm fitted in the cylinder, an outlet port in the cylinder ad- J'acent the end opposite the inlet port, means to rotate the worm, and duct connections between the outlet port and said duct in the body, said body being fixed over the reservoir in sealing relation.

11. The structure of claim 8 in which a channel is formed in the top of the body member at right angles to the shaft opposite the nozzle block, a chisel blade having its chisel edge presented toward the shaft, and means to secure the chisel blade longitudinally adjustable in the channel.

12. In a coating machine of the character described, a horizontal shaft mounted liftably,

yielding means to hold the shaftin lowered oper ative position, a nozzle device located at one side of the shaft having a horizontal nozzle slot opening toward the shaft below the horizontal diameter of the shaft, the lower edge of the slot being further from the shaft than the upper edge of the slot, means to supply coating liquid under; pressure to the nozzle device, and means spaced from the nozzle to remove a predetermined excess of coating from a ribbon passing downward:

1y between the nozzle device and shaft and under and upwardly around the shaft.

13. The structure of claim 12in which the.last

' named means consists of a chisel element having liquid coating supply, means to supply the coating in a ribbon-like moving body, means to move a ribbon in the same general direction convergent to and into engagement with said moving coating body including means having a supporting surface at the side of the ribbon next the said coating body in advance of the line of contact of ribbon and coating body, and means having a.

supporting surface at the opposite side of the ribbon beyond the said line of contact, and means spaced from said line of contact in the direction of movement of the ribbon to remove excess coating material from the ribbon.

16. In a machine for coating inked ribbon transfer fabric with an additional material impervious to ink when dry, wherein is provided a ribbon support, means to move a ribbon longitudinally thereunder and thereagainst, means to 1 coat the ribbon on the under side in advance of the ribbon support with an excess of ink-impervious material in avolatile solvent, and a chisel bit mounted to engage the excess coating adjacent the ribbon support, wherein the bit is formed with a working edge having inner edge faces extending from the working edge at anextremely acute angle, the junction of said faces being rounded within an extremely short radius not exceeding a radius of .0156 of an inch to constitute said working edge, said bit being positioned with its working edge toward the ribbon in opposition to and closely adjacent said ribbon supp rt, the medial plane -of the part of the bit adjacent the working edge being disposed at an acute angle to the nearest part of the ribbon with the working edge advanced in thedirection of approach of the ribbon to the bit, a mounting for the said ribbon support, a mounting for the bit, one at least of said mountings being movable from and toward the other, means to stop convergent movement thereof at a minimum spacing of the bit and ribbon support, and a spring device engaged with such movable mounting to hold it in operative position yieldable to excess thickness of material in interposed ribbon material whereby knots and the like in the ribbon material moving between the ribbon support and bit will separate the bit and support further by reaction of the excess thickness material of the ribbon between said ribbon support and bit, and permit passage of such excess thickness in the ribbon past the bit without cutting of the fabric.

17. In a machine for coating inked ribbons and the like, means to supply a liquid coating in a ribbon-like longitudinally moving body, means to move a ribbon longitudinally -over, and in the same direction as the movement of, said body of coating and into engagement at the lower side of the ribbon with said body of coating and beyond the point of engagement of said ribbon and said body of coating. said first named means stoping short of contact ,with the ribbon in the direction of departure of the ribbon from the place of engagement of the ribbon and said body of coating, and means beyond said place of engagement ribbon in the general direction of the path of the body of coating material at a speed approximating that of said body, over, convergent to, and into engagement with said body of coating material, said ribbon advancing means so spaced from said coating projecting means, on at least the side of 'the last named means in the direction of the departure of the ribbon therefrom, as to afford a clear-way for the ribbon and the body of coating material at the instant of contact, said ribbon advancing means including a guide member of generally cylindrical form positioned to receive the uncoated side of the ribbon thereagainst beyond the line of contact of said coating and ribbon, means to draw the ribbon at least partly around said cylindrical guide member, and a chisel-like member having a rectilinear edge presented toward and closely adjacent the ribbon in the direction of approach of the ribbon to said edge and at an acute angle to the proximal portion of the ribbon and beneath the guide member, whereby contact of the ribbon and the coating is effected without material pressureof the coating against the ribbon.

GEORGE W. SI-IRECKHISE. 

